Watford defender Jay DeMerit remains optimistic despite facing a race against time to be fit for his Premiership debut at Everton on Saturday.

Having marked Brazil star Adriano out of the game in his side's 1-1 draw with Inter Milan last week, the Wisconsin-born center back hurt his ankle in training last Friday and missed Watford's 2-1 win over Chievo.

"It was actually a pretty bad type of strain," DeMerit told YA. "I went up for a header, and on landing, the other guy stepped on my ankle and I rolled on it. It was all black and blue."

Despite the apparent seriousness of the injury, DeMerit may yet be lining up at Goodison Park on Saturday with his teammates.

"The swelling has died down now," he said. "I have just started walking gingerly, so if I am jogging by Wednesday or Thursday it is more likely that I will be able to get through it. I will find out what the MRI says and then go from there really."

So eager is the hero of Watford's promotion playoff final to realize his long held Premiership dream, he has taken his work home with him in an effort to get fit to face Tim Howard's team.

"I am doing four hours a day of treatment at the training ground and I have actually taken all the equipment I have used there home in my car," he chuckled.

"I will be using them on the hour every hour for the next couple of days to really get back."

"I was also wearing strapping to protect my ankles at the time and that saved me at least a couple of weeks. On the street I'd probably be out for quite a while but with all the technology these days you can cure these things in about a week."

"I am optimistic for Saturday," DeMerit concluded. "I hope I can play, very much so. I want to get back and they want me to get back so it is just a case of going the right way about it."